Apparatus for recovering waste alcohol from casks.



No. 639,980. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

M. HICKEY. APPARATUS FOR BECOVERING WASTE ALCOHOL FROM CASKS.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No lodel.)

4 Sheets-S eet 2.

Patented Dec. 26, 1899. M. HICKEY.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1399.)

\ m W N ERS 2a.. Moraumo" ASNYNGYO n APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING WASTEALCOHOL FROM CASKS.

No Model.)

No. 639,980. Patented Dec. 26, I899. M. HICKEY.

APPARATUS FOR REOOVERING WASTE ALCOHOL FROM OAS KS.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 N: w lili \g ii l No. 639,980. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

M. HICKEY. APPARATUS FOR RECDVERING WASTE ALCOHOL FROM GASKS.

(Application filed Afig. 1 1, I899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

THE uonms vzrzns co moramuo wAgn-nqumn, n, c,

NlTED STATES PATENT Fries.

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING WASTE ALCOHOL FROM CASKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.639,980, dated December26, 1899.

Application filed August 11, 1899. Serial No. 726 ,862. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL HIOKEY, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Recovering Waste Alcohol from Oasks,Barrels, &c., of which the following is a specifi: cation.

My invention relates to apparatus for recovering waste alcohol fromcasks and barrels; and the object of my invention is to recover thealcohol which is absorbed by the casks and barrels, as a largepercentage of the contained alcohol is taken up by the wood of which thecasks are made, and especially so where the interior of the cask hasbeen charred, in which case the amount of ab sorbed alcohol is greaterowing to the porous nature of the charred wood.

A further object of my invention is to prevent the blackening of thebarrels due to the steam and volatilized alcohol in the tank in whichthe casks are located during the recovering operation.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodyingmyinvention, Figure l is aperspective View of the tank in which thecasks are located during the operation of recovering waste alcohol. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the tank with the central andright-hand lower and upper tiers of barrels in full lines. Fig. 3 is across-sectional view through the tank with the barrels in full lines.Fig. 4 is an end ele vation of the tank, showing the fan for cooling theinside of the tank by exhausting the vapors. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the steam-pipe connections for introducing steam into the casksor barrels. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rubber coveringsfor the barrels. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the elasticbands for holding the covering on the barrel during the operation ofrecovering the alcohol.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

A represents a tank which is constructed of a copper lining A and anumber of surrounding longitudinal wooden strips B, which are heldtogether by the metal bands 0, which can be adjusted on said tank byscrewthreaded bolt D and the nuts D, which con tact with the lugs D onthe band 0 and hold each band in its adjusted position. The tankisprovided with front and rear wooden heads E and F and is supported by aseries of cradles A. In the front head there is a suitable open ing G,which is closed by the door H, of any suitable construction, and may belocked by any suitable locking mechanism to the front head, so as toclose the opening G. The free end of the door in its movement issupported by the rod H, provided with the roller H at its upper end,which roller travels along the curved runway H supported by the brace Hsecured to the ceiling or other suitable support. The pipe I leads fromthe interior of the tank and is provided on its upper end with the gageJto indicate the pressure within' the tank. The rear head F is braced bysuitable iron girders and is provided with a suitable opening K, inwhich is located the fan K, surrounded by a suitable guard K and saidfan is mounted fast on the shaft K having a fixed pulley K driven by thebelt K which in turn is driven by any suitable power for exhausting thevapors within the tank, so that the temperature maybe reducedsufficiently to enable the workmen to enter the tank to remove the casksalready treated and substitute others for treatment. During thetreatment of the barrels the fan is not in operation, but is set inmotion at the proper time to reduce the temperature, as above described.

The steam passes from a suitable boiler by the pipe L, provided with asuitable control ling-valve L, and from said pipe leads on one side ofthe tank the steam-pipe L which passes into the tank, Fig. 2, and islocated centrally on the platform L and said pipe L is provided atdifierent points with the lat orally-extending pipes L L, to which areswiveled at l'the pipes L L which extend up into the casks L L whichconstitute the two lower tiers of casks or barrels. These pipes L L aresmaller in diameter than the bung-holes L in the two bottom rows ofbarrels L L From the branch pipe L having a suitable controlling-valveM, extends the branch steam-pipe M, which passes through into the tankand extends longitudinally along the left-hand side of said tank and isprovided with a number of flexible rubber tubes M one for each of thebarrels M in the upper row on the left-hand side of the tank. Thesteam-pipe L is provided with a horizontal branch pipe N, whichcommunicates with the vertical branch pipe N, controlled by a suitablevalve N and said pipe passes into the tank A and extends longitudinallyalong the right-hand side of the tank and is provided with a number offlexible rubber tubes 0, one for each of the barrels P in the center ofthe tank, and with a number of flexible rubber tubes 0, one for each ofthe barrels P, located along the right-hand side of the tank. All thesetubes M 0, and O are smaller in diameter than the bungholes 0 of thebarrels to provide open communication between the interior of the tankand each of the barrels, so that the pressure steam enters the interiorof each cask or barrel L", L M P, and P through the connections abovedescribed and volatilizes more or less of the absorbed alcohol whichpasses out through the bung-hole and is confined within the closed tank,and the only escape of said volatilized alcohol is through the pipe Q tothe condenser, where it is condensed and recovered. After the casks havebeen confined about two hours within the tank the valve L is closed,which cuts off the steam, and the door H is opened. The fan is thenturned on and reduces the temperature within the tank, so that theworkmen can remove the casks and introduce a new set for treatment.

The pipes L L are swiveled, so that they may be turned down as the lowertiers of barrels or casks are removed after treatment to provide roomfor a more easy manipulation of the barrels. To prevent the barrelsbeing injured by the acid from the wood or iron which are affected bythe steam, the barrels are covered with canvas, rubber, or othercoverings R, which are placed over the ends of the barrels and are heldthereon by an elastic band S during the treatment of the barrels, andsaid bands prevent the steam and vapor passing under the coverings andgettinginto contact with the barrels. Then the barrels are taken out ofthe tank after treatment and the coverings removed, the barrels are thesame in appearance as before being treated and can be sold as newbarrels.

A series of narrow strips of wood T are secured to the inside of thetank to prevent the barrels coming into contact with the copper lining,which lining keeps the alcoholic vapors and steam from contact with thestrips of wood B, forming the outside of the tank; but although I haveshown and described a copper lining such lining is not necessary, but isa preferable arrangement.

By placing the barrels, as shown, with the bung-holes down they are moreeasily cleansed of the glue, rubber, or coloring-matter that may be inthem, and such waste matter passes out through the bung-holes andthroughthe slatted platform L and out through the wastepipe U, having asuitable controlling-valve U and connected to the sewer. The glue,

rubber, coloring-matter, and other refuse are. driven inwardly by theintense heat around would not be entirely removed, but a certain amountwould settle and remain in the bottom of the barrels, so that thisplacing of the barrels with the bung-holes down is important. Asafety-valve V is provided to relieve any excess of pressure within thetank A.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as thesame may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an apparatus of the character specified, a tank for receiving theempty casks, a main steam-pipe, one or more branch steampipes from saidmain steam-pipe, connections leading from said branch pipes into theinterior of each cask, a pipe leading from said tank for the passage ofthe volatilizedalcohol to the condenser, a pipe leadingfrom the bottomof the tank for the passage of the refuse matter from the interior ofsaid casks, and valves controlling said pipes.

2. In an apparatus of the character specified, a tank for receiving theempty casks, a main steam-pipe, one or more branch steampipes from saidmain steam-pipe, connections leading from said branch steam-pipes intothe interior of each cask, a pipe leading from said tank for the passageof the volatilized alcohol to the condenser, a pipe leading from,

fied, a tank for receiving the empty casks, a

main steam-pipe, one or more branch steampipes from said mainsteam-pipe, connections leading from said branch steam-pipes into l l Ithe interior of each ca'sk, apipe leading from said tank for the passageof the volatilized alcohol to the condenser, a pipe leading from thebottom of the tank for the passage of the refuse matter from theinterior of said casks, valves controlling said pipes, and a fan forcooling the interior of said tank after the steam is shut oflf.

4:. In an apparatus of the character speci fied, a tank for receivingthe empty casks, a main steam-pipe, one or more branch steampipes fromsaid main steam-pipe, connections leading from said branch pipesupwardly into the interior of each cask through the bunghole and ofsmaller diameter than said bunghole, and a pipe leading from said tankfor the passage of volatilized alcohol to the condenser.

5. In an apparatus of the character specified, a tank for receiving theempty casks, a steam-pipe located insaid tank and provided with verticalextensions of smaller diameter than the bung-holes of said casks andadapted to enter said casks through the bung-holes and hold the casks inposition, and a pipe leading from said tank for the passage of thevolatilized alcohol to the condenser.

6. In an apparatus of the character specified, a tank for receiving theempty casks, a steam-pipe located in said tank and provided with movablevertical extensions of smaller diameter than the bung-holes of saidcasks and adapted to enter said casks through the bung-holes and holdthe casks in position, anda pipe leading from said tank for the passageof the volatilized alcohol to the condenser.

7. In an apparatus of the character specified, a tank for receiving theempty casks, a steam-pipe for supplying steam to the interior of eachcask, and a fan for cooling the interior of the tank when the steam isshut off;

8. In an apparatus of the character specified, a tank for receiving theempty casks, a steam-pipe for supplying steam to the interior of eachcask, a covering for each cask, and means for holding said covering inplace on the casks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of August, A. D.1899.

MICHAEL HIGKEY.

Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, O. A. STEWART.

